Huckleberry Finn Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Huckleberry Finn - Term Paper Example n 19th century America in the South and the main characters are represented by low social castes and it is through their experiences and their view points that society’s values and norms are challenged by the young protagonist. Twain presents Huck as a young, independent boy endowed with both strength and stamina of character. He is characterized by 19th century society as an â€Å"outlaw† and an â€Å"outcast† (Johnson 1996, 5). Yet the reader is left with the distinct impression that this characterization of Huck is more of a condemnation of the society in which he is viewed as an outcast and an outlaw. Johnson (1996) explains that Huck’s outcast status is derived from society’s failure. Huck’s childhood â€Å"has scarcely been an idyllic one, nor has he lived the life of a typical carefree boy† (Johnson 1996, 5). Twain characterizes Huck as a sensitive and unselfish individual who struggles with moral choices, often questioning the hypocrisy of societal values and demonstrating his own sense of right and wrong. Huck’s society characterizes him as a misfit who is almost always in â€Å"some kind of trouble, or out of sympathy† with those in control (Johnson 1996,5). Early on Huck is seen as an incompatible fit even with his good friend, Tom Sawyer and his gang. This characterization of Huck continues and strengthens as the plot moves along. For instance, in Huck’s brief encounter with the Grangerfords, he cannot understand their social values and contradicts it in helping their daughter escape with the son of a family the Grangerfords are feuding with. The biggest manifestation of Huck’s characterization as a misfit however, is his determination and efforts to help Jim the slave, escape the Phelps, rather than turn him into Miss Watson. In summary, Huck is characterized as â€Å"continually at war with society, and with society’s values† (Johnson 1996, 6). It is through his experience on the run with Jim, that Huck matures and is able to

English writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

English writing - Essay Example They later form the leadership tables in the kingdoms and dynasties, regarded as heroes, master’s, kings and so forth , but do these titles come with social, economic, cultural or political obligation to the beholder? In other words, what is the role of social relationships and other human interactions and how do the titleholders or the leaders approach the sometimes-conflicting obligations that come with the titles? William Deresiewicz’s ideas on leadership and the sacrifices that one has to make in order to change the position he is in and/or change the society’s perception over a phenomenon can is an analytical tool to evaluate the heroic traditions in these films. In addition, by evaluating the role of social relationships and their sometimes conflicting obligations will help us understand the real cost of heroism and the consequences involved in case the hero/the leader misses a point in his words or actions (Finch, 2). For instance, in Seven Samurai, the conflict of the chief and the village elder on their social/security obligation to defend the farming village creates a row between the residents of the village on the best strategy to apply. Deresiewicz’s view on the kind of leadership that the society requires is based on solitude and independent thought, which may not favor every party in a particular setting. For instance, the chief decides to spare marauding bandi ts until the harvest because he had attacked the mountain before while on the other hand the village elder declares they must find a samurai to protect the village (Seven Samurai Video). Each of the decision had the better part of it and repercussion but which one was more prudent, timely and comprehensive from a leader to his fellow followers? The role of social relationships and the sometimes conflicting obligations will take preference in this case in that for the village elder’s decision to find hungry samurai since they have nothing to offer but food, which is about to be